As we welcome the arrival of summer, it also signifies the arrival of another not-so-welcome season -- tick season. TruGreen, America's number one lawn care provider, offers Northeastern homeowners a solution to reducing tick populations so they can enjoy their property all summer long.

June 10, 2014 15:04 ET | Source:TruGreen

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - As we welcome the arrival of summer, it also signifies the arrival of another not-so-welcome season – tick season. TruGreen, America's number one lawn care provider offers Northeastern homeowners a solution to reducing tick populations so they can enjoy their property all summer long.

A tick is an arachnid that feeds on the blood of animals and humans to survive. The tick most commonly found in the Northeast is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Deer ticks typically make their homes in the Northeast and Midwest, where there are plenty of wooded areas for them to hide. The tiny deer tick nymph is believed to be responsible for up to 90% of the transmission of tick-borne diseases to humans, including Lyme disease. Currently, there are no protective vaccines for humans for tick-borne diseases, so avoiding tick bites by reducing exposure is the best disease-prevention strategy.

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although estimates indicate that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is around 300,000, making it the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States.

What can be done?

According to the CDC, reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. A single springtime application of tick pesticide to your lawn can greatly reduce the number of ticks in your yard. The best time for the application to protect against Lyme disease is June when the ticks are in the nymph stage. If you live in an area prone to ticks, the CDC suggests you consider using a professional outdoor pest control company to help reduce the tick population in your yard.

"Using a professional outdoor pest control company should be part of a well-rounded, comprehensive defense program," said Ben Hamza, TruGreen Director of Technical Services. "Because ticks can congregate in backyards, it is especially important to protect yourself and your family so that you can fully enjoy your outdoor time without the worry of ticks and other outdoor pests."

Following are general tips from the CDC to help create a tick-safe zone to reduce ticks in your yard:

Use a professional outdoor pest control company to control ticks

Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns

Place a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas

Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves rakes

Stack wood neatly and in a dry area away from the house or lawn

Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from wooded areas and in a sunny location

Remove any trash or debris from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide

About TruGreen

Memphis, Tenn.-based TruGreen is the nation's largest lawn care company, serving more than 1.7 million residential and commercial customers across the United States with lawn, tree and shrub care. Your lawn and landscape need ongoing attention to stay healthy. That's why TruGreen provides science-based solutions tailored to meet your specific needs. When combined with proper mowing and watering techniques, these services can maximize your lawn's potential. As the leader in the professional lawn care industry, TruGreen is committed to responsible lawn care, including offering and promoting the use of natural, organic services and sustainable practices. Today, there are approximately 250 TruGreen LawnCare branches in the United States and Canada, including about 35 franchise locations.Go to http://www.TruGreen.com or http://www.facebook.com/TruGreen for more information about TruGreen.

Easily Send & Share Press Releases

GlobeNewswire, a NASDAQ OMX company, is one of the world's largest newswire distribution networks, specializing in the delivery of corporate press releases financial disclosures and multimedia content to the media, investment community, individual investors and the general public.